Planewalker issues

[Dr_Shadelore]

So recently I examined a certain individual (not giving names) and noticed something quite concerning from a lore standpoint. A known Planewalker who supposedly had a daughter with a succubus/ incubus. I would like to add, as a lore beard of Planescape that Planewalkers visiting the Prime Material generally do not make their plane hopping antics known let alone public on a description save for some ego trip by the player. Additional to that the tend to not involve themselves with local politics as, regardless of background/ motivations/ characteristics said planewalker would find it boring knowing the sheer size of the multiverse.

Planewalkers consider themselves enlightened and, in my opinion, should be considered a secret organization and while I recognise that PC's have the opportunity to visit Avernus and the shadow realm that does not make them a planewalker. Not only that magic/ magic items work differently in other planes so to planewalk requires some serious planar knowledge and preparation and entering the desired plane is slim nevermind making it back without a stable portal.

Personally I'm from a certain server that deals with the planes and to have a planewalker openly running about with Planewalker on their bio is a surefire way of normalizing a highly specialised and secretive occupation. I personally have a character who, from their 20 year history, has become a planewalker himself but he keeps it a heavy secret and my reasoning for him remaining is that he is completely stranded. I know he is a former Planewalker but no one else does and he is an outsider, not associated to and groups.

Concerning said PC: They are an Underdark Drow who needs a good rp reason to leave the Underdark so playing a known Planewalker just doesn't make sense as they can go to Carceri, for instance, but not to the surface? Something like that can lead to Godmodding or worse and, as a player it's bad for me when I personally tow the line and underplay my character to maintain server policy and lore whilemail an outright lore breaking PC is running around with an in character reason to just skip the Underdark transition by stating they simply leaped through a series of portals to get there.

I'm sorry if this sounds like a rant or an attack but it ruins immersion in my perspective as the multiversal laws of Planewalking in 3.5e should apply everywhere, even in the Underdark: Planewalkers remain secretivery and -always- have weird agendas but I do not believe that on this server players should be allowed to RP openly Planewalking when it is not viable.

(Edit: excuse any spelling or grammatical errors. Typed up on my phone)

[Steve]

Are you writing about Examining a PC’s bio IG?

In general, any bio I read I make an effort to accept the physical features described, but far too many bios have OOC/editorialized info that my own PC would not be able to know. In these instances, and generally anything that I read from the Examine page that isn’t a physical description, I apply the mantra of: “prove it.”

Thus, if I was to read about a plane walker described, I’d say to myself “prove it,” or else it doesn’t happen/exist in the BGTSCC server world.

[Dr_Shadelore]

I whole heartedly agree with that statement. I'll elaborate that my concern is with them claiming ooc'ly to being a -known- planewalker implying that it is public knowledge. My thread wasn't intended on being a complaint but more of a concern that something typically beyond the comprehension of our Characters is being unwillingly thrust upon us when 99% of players attempt to maintain a standard.

I'm willing to ignore the OOC claim but, in terms of FR lore and Planescape lore Planewalkers would definitely not publically declare that they are such through fear of a witch hunt or possible organisational hunt to acquire their capabilities. Using Planewalking in a none Planescape setting, to me, leave it too open to RP quick escapes out of situations and should be played very cautiously.

[Steve]

There is also this bit of General Server Rules:

While most DM stances on certain events are covered under the DM Rulings topic, if you have a character concept that's out of the ordinary (e.g. atypical background/heritage, nobility, contact with lore NPCs, or a concept that can't be adequately described on your character sheet), send a request to the DM Team who will clarify and deal with any outstanding issues.

A player stating OOC that their PC is a “known” plane walker still needs to prove it, as in, DM approval and upheld. Otherwise....

[DM SummerBreeze]

Really powerful character backgrounds need to be approved by the DM team, so if its really extravagant and wild and claiming all kinds of power that other players would not have, it is probably safe to assume the character does not in fact possess these abilities.

As Steve said, "Prove it" is probably always the best way to go with this stuff. In my personal opinion, those bios should only really be filled out with physical descriptions.